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THISDAY STYLEFASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

RUTH OSIME

EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG

CONTRIBUTORSRUKY SALAKO

ISIOMA USIADEIYANU AYODELE

PHOTOGRAPHERTY BELLO

DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTIONCHUKS ONWUDINJO

08111847085

08111847086

08111847087

07054965500

08077092196

Now that the lockdown has been slightly lifted, curfew has been shifted from 8pm to 10pm, people are beginning to host events albeit very small in numbers.

Though there is enough reason to want things to get back to normal after such a long haul...this purported perception is very far from the truth! Yes people are tired of staying at home and as the economy is bleeding profusely so they are slowly testing waters...in their quest for survival! But these tentative steps are still somewhat premature because as we are yet to manage this virus that’s still very much around. You open up the economy too fast and we will pay the price with the spike and deaths that will arise from this virus. This has been

proven with the after effects of the recent protests held globally. We are yet to flatten this curve. Countries like England have decided to take the bull by the horn and face the

virus head on believing it will have to get worse before things can get better so they might as well learn to live with it. In fact, truth be told, they are more lapse about it than

we are in here in Nigeria! So with this if-you-can’t-beat-them-join-them attitude some of us have, I do reluctantly conceded that

we cannot stay prisoners forever in our homes but l do plead that we limit our outings to the barest minimum if we can help it! We have coped so far and even though we cannot allow fear and anxiety overrule all our decisions, we can also not allow foolishness dictate our pace either. The good thing is that more and more people who have contacted the virus have survived with little or no fuss or rather, not much pain. But then again, people have also died a painful death and as for those who had a bad bout of it and managed to survive, they have lingering side effects that still make them feel they are in the woods rather than out of it! This is what breeds anxiety and ignites so much fear in us. We have been told that over 70% of the world’s population will contact this virus before the end of the year. There have been so many conflicting news that one does not quite know what to believe anymore. But as we know of more people who have contacted Covid 19, the prognosis seems to get closer and closer to home. Our prayers should be not to fall into the small percentage of those who do not survive it because the average person over 50, has one underlining issue or the other.

We do pray that like other pandemics before it, corona virus will vanish into thin air the way it came after a few years!

Until then...please stay Safe. FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

CONTENTFashion10 INVENTIONS THAT WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT BLACK WOMEN PG 6

TRENDS TO TRY: WHITE PANTS PG 6-7

TRIPLE DELIGHT PG 7

WAYS TO STYLE THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS PG 8

5 MINS WITH JANE AMUTA PG 10

FAT SHAMING PG 11

360 ON A POSITIVE WITH DR IFEYINWA PG 17

LUXURY MEETS SPORTS PG 18

LAYER IT UP PG 19

DID YOU KNOW? PG 19

MOTHERHOOD AND THE PANDEMIC PG

20-21

COLOURS OF SUMMER PG 22-23

Prior to her retirement from The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Lami Tumaka held sway in her position as Director, Special Duties. Some people would say her absence has left a void in the Maritime industry that would not be easily filled. In this interview, she speaks to KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR about the joys of turning 60, her NIMASA journey, life after retirement and the importance of trusting and investing in people.

Trend to try There’s a lot to love about white pants. They’re chic,

they’re stylish, and they make an excellent alternative

to basic black pants. Don’t believe us? We can prove it.

Due to their neutral yet less conventional shade, white

trousers are just as smart and versatile as black pants

while being far more exciting. As such, they’re a fantastic

fashion-forward option that’s easy to wear. Ideal for any

season, white pants come in a range of materials, styles

and designs. They can also work with almost anything,

and we have the inspiration to back it up.

It shouldn’t be news anymore that women have invented everything from beer and coffee to wifi and disposable

diapers. But what’s more is that black women specifically have offered

their ingenuity, innovation, and creativity to the world in ways you wouldn’t believe yet their incredible

contributions have been largely overlooked in modern society. There

are surprisingly many inventions that are very helpful to the advancement of the human race, that were invented by Blacks. Below are 10 self-explanatory pictures that showcase inventions by

African-American women.

INVENTIONS THAT WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT BLACK

WOMEN

10

1. 3D MoviesMany people enjoy watching movies in 3D. This remarkable invention is possible due to the works of Dr Valerie Thomas, who was a Physicist and Data Analyst at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

2. Global Positioning System (GPS)GPS was developed by Dr. Gladys West. She was a mathematician.

3. Hair ConditionerMadam C.J. Walker created specialized hair products for African American hair care and was one of the first American women to become a self-made millionaire.

4. Menstral PadsMary Beatrice Davidson Kenner invented the Sanitary Belt that led to today’s menstrual pads.

5. Home Security SystemsMarie Van Brittan Brown invented the home security system and patented it in 1966. Her invention laid the ground for the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) system.

6. Caller ID and Call WaitingWithout Shirley Ann Johnson’s invention, most of you

wouldn’t have known who was calling. Also, thanks to her you can out someone on call waiting. She studied at MIT.

7. Central HeatingAlice H. Parker was an American inventor known for her contribution to the heating furnace. She invented a furnace that supplied central heating for homes and entire buildings

8. The Ironing BoardSarah Boone brought fun in ironing clothes.

9. Graphics Interchange Format – GIFLisa Gelobter invented the Graphics Interchange Format animation. Her name often goes unrecognised. On May 15th 2020, Facebook Inc bought the GIF company Giphy for Sh42 billion (USD 400 million).

10. Hair-wave machineMarjorie Joyner was an American businesswoman, hair care entrepreneur, philanthropist, educator and activist. Joyner is noted for being the first African-American woman to create and patent a permanent hair-wave machine.

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

BY ISIOMA USIADE

DATE A see-through turtleneck paired with a mini skirt is a safe bet for most causal outings. You can wear it with

a pair of sneakers or some cute sandals. Either way it will

look relaxed yet chic.

CASUALTIWA SAVAGE spiced it up with a crop off the shoulder long sleeve top which

elevates the whole look. She finished up the look with a pair of white

kicks.

For a girl

on the go, multi-t

asking should be your

wardrobe missi

on statem

ent. This v

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Tbally

“Adira” sk

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statem

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that has been

effortle

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differen

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aring with

other wardrobe p

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the bow and colour co

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unique

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anything. This piece

is perfe

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ork, the w

eekend, and beyond.

CHIC This is such a

classic look, one of my favourite go-to looks that

works at the office and after too. Pairing an adire

statement mini skirt with white shirt on a Friday is a classy combination keeping

it within the same colour family. It takes a look

down from being overly formal to still dressy

and fun and very chic.

TOLU BALLY

TOKE MAKINWA

TRIPLE

DELIGHT!

BY USIADE ISIOMA

YVONNE NWOSU

IJEOMA KOLA

KEELA

OLAR

TOKE MAKINWASTELLA UZO

Who says you need colour to make a statement outfit? An all-white look can appear bold and stylish without any other hues. To nail the look, try breaking things up using different shades of white.

For special events and evening functions, white pants can make an excellent option. In fact, they can often appear even more sophisticated than black trousers. All you need to do is ensure you select the right style.

To make a statement with your white pants, opt for a wide-leg silhouette. If you’re tall, select a full-length pair. If you’re short, choose a cropped style and partner it with heels. No matter your height, be sure to style your pants based on the look you want to achieve.

For a stylish, sporty option, consider pairing white sweatpants with a pair of sneakers and a basic crew-neck T-shirt.

TIWA SAVAGE

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S T Y L E & D E S I G N S T Y L E & D E S I G NTHISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

STYLE THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS

WAYS TO

Queen of all dresses, the Little Black Dress is classified as a ‘must-have’ by every fashion magazine and most of us knew what the acronym L.B.D. stood for before we were even old enough to wear one! Various glamorous women have the

perfect little black dress in their arsenal. It’s a must have in any girl’s wardrobe, and the perfect little black dress can take you from the office to the bar and beyond. How you style yours is completely up to personal choice, but if you’re feeling a little less creative, we’ve offered some advice below to get your mind

cracking!

CHRISTIANA KAYODE

DIANE YASHIM

ALICIA

CHIOMA IKOKWU

INIDIMA OKOJIE

ANGEL OBASI

INI EDO

BY ISIOMA USIADE

Layers, layers, layersThe nineties trend just won’t quit, and we’ve gained inspiration from our favourite pop stars in this next tip. Make like a member of a girl-band and layer your favourite black dress over a plain white-shirt for an edgier, cooler update on the look. If classic is your thing, stick to monochrome colours, or if you’re feeling a bit more daring, why not try a pop of pink or red? Your world is your oyster!

Pair with trainersIf high heels just aren’t your thing, swap the tower blocks for a pair of trainers. Cami or t-shirt style dresses work best with this look, and stick to light materials like cotton to ensure you look casual, cool and collected rather than mismatched. Add a faux-leather rucksack for extra cool points.

TightsAdd a pair of tights underneath your favourite little black dress in the colder months for an extra pop of personality. Our personal favourites are barely-there dots – sophisticated yet discreet. Steer clear of star print or anything too ‘tween’-like, and you should be good to go.

ClassicFor that classic look, let your LBD make a statement with a voluminous sleeve. Pair with some killer heels and few accessories. It’s a timeless, elegant look that’ll take you from the dining room to the dance floor, and if you’re feeling too restricted towards the end of the night – shake your hair loose and you’ll have tumbling waves in an instant

Strappy sandalsIt can be hard to figure out what shoes to wear with a little black dress. Too much colour can take away from the classiness of your dress, so we’ve found it best to stick to a pair of statement black strappy heels. These kinds of heels can be worn again and again with a multitude of outfits.

Pillar box Red lipsThe pillar box red lip is the ultimate accessory when you’re wearing a plain outfit. Classically, red connotes romance, love and desire, and red llips add a flirty edge to an otherwise demure black dress. If your skin tone is warm, reach for a true red shade to compliment you best, and if it’s cool, a blueish red is the one you need.

Statement clutchLet your bag do the talking and team your little black dress with your favourite statement clutch. If your dress shows off your décolletage, a strappy bag can ruin the line of the dress. A clutch on the other hand, adds interest without being in your face. Opt for a fluffy one for a fun punch of sass, or a beaded one if you prefer a more elegant look.

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S T Y L E & D E S I G N THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

For Jane Amuta, her journey to success in the fitness industry is as a result of her life-long passion for fitness and healthy living which has translated into a thriving business, a challenge in entrepreneurship and a fulfilling preoccupation. Jane thinks fitness should be a fun way of life. She speaks to Funke Babs-Kufeji on why she believes so and shares tips of how to stay fit.

You are founder and owner of Fit Gym, Salons and Spa, a fitness brand you describe as a one station superstore for fitness, health and life style. Can you tell us how you got started in this industry?

I have had a life long passion for fitness and health as far back as my NYSC days in Okene, Kogi state. I graduated from Abia State University where I used to take long solo jogs on a daily basis. Along the line, my co-corps members joined me and I set up a fitness group in the process. That is the early beginnings of my fitness journey.

After the NYSC, I returned to Lagos. I continued with my fitness habits. In addition to daily long walks and jogs in my neighbourhood, I later joined a small neighbourhood gym. Most of the members were young men and they used to marvel at my energy level and passion.

I later became a banker, a career that did not quite give me enough time to keep a good fitness routine, but I was still able to squeeze in my routines especially on weekends.

In addition to my fitness passion, I have always had interest in entrepreneurship. So when I decided to quit banking, it was natural that I go into business in an area that will engage my passion. They are all related. If you are fit, your health improves. When you are healthy and fit, you want to celebrate your beauty and sustain your wellness. That is why I set up an integrated facility to give my clients all the options in one place.

What services do you offer that makes your fitness Centre and health Centre unique from others around?

Understandably, the awareness of the value of fitness has increased in the last couple of years which has reflected in the number of outlets and ventures. I looked at what is available in the market and designed a facility that fits into our environment while measuring up to the best international standards. Because of the seriousness I attach to the fitness and health industry, one of the preliminary steps I took when starting up, was to get the relevant training and certifications. It is not an area for all comers if you want to do it properly. There is no guesswork. Human physiology is a very scientific discipline. You cannot train the body without

understanding its mechanics and biology. We have one of the best-equipped gyms in Lagos.

So, clients who want assisted workouts can get a good workout with little personal assistance. We, of course, have certified gym trainers to help ensure that our clients are doing the right workouts and safely too.

Our other departments are similarly well equipped. Our Spa not only has the necessary equipment and the correct treatment oils and products, we also have experienced and well trained therapists whose knowledge is constantly updated.

Our overall ambience is tailored to giving clients the necessary privacy and satisfaction. We have created an ambience that makes clients feel at home either in our salons or nail studios or spa.

A lot of people run from exercise and healthy eating because they find it stressful and boring. With this in mind, how do you make exercise and eating healthy a more enjoyable activity?

Regular physical exercise is not exactly a pleasant life style choice for so many people. It requires a lot of discipline, willpower and determination to make it a habit. But once one cultivates the habit, it is hard to quit. The biggest incentive is the proven fact that there is a direct connection between physical fitness and health. Nearly every one wants to live a long and healthy life. So, that love for life is at the core of the incentive to embark on regular physical exercise.

Exercise can be fun once you cultivate the habit. Moreover, the gym becomes a community, a club of friends who love the same things. That sense of community can help relieve the dread of exercise.

Healthy eating is another life style change issue that is often misrepresented. People believe that healthy eating is synonymous with punishing diets and boring food. That is not true.

In our cultural environment, the problem is that we eat too much of the wrong things and too little of the right things. When we eat eba, pounded yam or wheat flour with soup, the soup and its protein content is usually the smaller component while people fill up with the carbohydrate as the main item. You know the usual big bowl of white rice with the tiny piece of meat perching on top.

The first problem of our diets is portion. Our portions

are just too large. The first task in adopting a healthy diet is to drastically cut down on the portion size. Portion control is key.

The second part is to ensure that the diet contains the essential nutrients and the balance of proteins and carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables are a must in any healthy diet. So if you have a diet that has proteins, carbohydrates with fruits and vegetables, it cannot be boring or difficult. Once adopted, a healthy diet is like regular exercise. It becomes part of a life style change and you hardly notice it because it is now a part of you.

It is claimed that some women run from exercise because of certain perceptions. What is the strangest you have heard of such cases?

The most popular myth is that strength training will make a woman bulk up like a man. That is false. Actually, women do not have as much testeteroneas men. On the average, women have about 15-20% less testeterone than men. Because of that genetic make up, women cannot build as much muscle mass as men. For a woman to become a body builder or bulky, she needs to be on anabolic androgenic steroids and testeterone enhancement supplements. Actually, weight training is good for you because it helps you to tone up.

A lot of women after a certain age feel it almost impossible or a struggle to keep fit or lose weight because they feel like genetics and their 50-plus metabolisms make it impossible to get fit. What do you say to people like that to get their mind and body right?

As we get older, we start to lose our lean muscle mass which slows down our metabolism. We tend to slow down our activities and therefore burn fewer calories. It requires a different exercise routine which includes weight training and not just cardio. That way, you can build back muscle mass to fire back your metabolism and burn more calories at rest. Then do a diet tweak which reduces the daily calorie intake and rebalances your nutrition. It is a matter of management.

What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to someone that wants to lose weight and stay fit, especially new mums?

You can do it as long as you keep going. It is a journey

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and not a sprint. Therefore it requires a whole load of patience and commitment. Consistency and discipline. For new mums, the body has gone through a bit of trauma. Give yourself a bit of time and don’t beat yourself up. With the right exercise and the correct diet, you can definitely get your body back if not even better.

As a new mum, you can help yourself by eating right while breast-feeding. What you need is the right balanced diet, not necessarily loading up on empty calories in huge portions. Quality and portion control are the key words.

You have to work your way back to full exercise routine in slow measured stages with time. Listen to your body and obey your maternal instincts. No hurry.

Keto, paleo, intermittent fasting - it feels like everywhere we look, someone is proposing a new way to eat to lose weight. How can women figure what is right for them?

Fad diets have become a thriving industry. My caution is that people have to be careful in the choices they make. Look at dieting as a life style change rather than a momentary flight of fantasy. It is best to adopt a homegrown diet that you can sustain on a life long basis. Sustainability is the word. If you quickly adopt a fad diet, which you are likely to drop in weeks or months, the gains will evaporate soon after the diet marketer has cashed his cheque. And you will be left with your original weight problem and a little less money in your account!

With this pandemic in play, a lot of people are worried about going to the gym. What are the best ways for people to stay fit without stepping out of their houses?

We now live in a virtual world. Those who cannot physically access a gym have the option of our online daily fitness workouts. Actually, the Covid-19 emergency helped us develop this arm of our business. Once gyms were shut down by the lockdown, we felt an obligation to society and our clients to sustain their fitness routines. So, we offered online fitness classes for six weeks free of charge. It is now a subscription-based service with a free weekly session on Saturdays. Through it, we are able to reach clients from across the nation and even internationally. We have online clients who join our sessions from Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe. So, distance is no longer a limitation.

With online fitness sessions, you work from the privacy of your home and your personal space. You can even adapt your workout schedule to your personal schedule as our sessions are recorded and retained for subsequent replay by clients. Also, the online platform enables our clients maintain constant contact with us. We are able to take their questions and offer solutions by phone, email, whatsapp or instagram promptly. We also monitor their progress by video.

What is your honest opinion on the way forward for fitness enthusiasts and going back to the gym?

As for returning to the gym, we should all take it one step at a time. Once the economy fully reopens and gyms resume, I believe that life will return to its original shape over time. But the Covid-19 has helped us devise an alternative format for fitness enthusiasts.

JANE AMUTA

Recap and vital statistics: I am 5 feet and 10 inches tall

and 60 years old. I was super-slim till about 10

years ago, then gradually got fat.

I started this weight loss programme on March 16th when I weighed a whopping 120kg and measured 49-47-51 (chest-waist-hips) inches.

My progress has been patchy. There have been good weeks when I’ve lost weight, bad weeks when I’ve regained some of the weight I have lost and neutral weeks when I have neither lost nor gained.

My weight has been lingering at 111kg throughout June. But instead of complaining about this frustrating plateau situation, I’m going to share some emails I have received from readers of this column, based on advice I received from Steve, the first correspondent:-

Hi DK,My name is Steve. I have been

following this column and am glad you made real progress, despite sometimes backsliding. I am with you all the way and want to offer you some small advice:

• You look too dowdy in your photograph. People will be more attracted to your write-ups if you can please show us better pictures of yourself in nice workout attire, exercising.

• Make your column interactive and encourage readers to send photos of their own workouts and weight loss or gain experiences.

From Ngozi, a reader who has since joined Weight

Watchers United, a lively support group I founded with a few girlfriends:

Ms Kogbara, I’m an avid fan of your page. I love how you share

your struggles so authentically. Thank you for being a great encouragement to many of us! I’m looking accountability partners for my weight loss expedition; so I would like to know whether you are accepting new members into your “Weight Watchers United” group.

From Angela:

I’ve been following your column and applaud you for your honesty and bravery in sharing the ups and downs of the weight battle.

I was very big growing up. I eventually lost weight as an adult a few years ago and I’m thankful that my weight has been reasonably consistent, though it does fluctuate. I have come to accept these fluctuations as a part of the journey and try not to get too down

when my weight goes up. It just forces me to change my habits.

You mentioned not finding the right sugar substitute for you. Have you tried Splenda? It honestly tastes just like sugar and is one of the things I use to try and minimise my calorie intake.

Also, have you tried using calorie counters like My Fitness Pal, which I have also found hugely helpful?

From a fellow traveller with

dietary/exercise opinions to offer:

Dear Ms. Kogbara,My name is Stella Agege. I

am, like you, from Rivers State.I undertook research for two

years and discovered amazing things about the weight loss phenomenon, including the fact that weight loss is 30 % exercise or physical activity and 70% what you eat.

A. Physical ActivityAs you have mentioned in

your column, you have to rev up your physical activity to overcome the plateau and

should be targeting about 20,000 steps a day (please use pacer apps to measure).

Embrace weight-lifting. This activity is so key! You will burn more calories and fat in less time while lifting weights. You will convert some of the fat into muscles and get a leaner silhouette. Use dumb bells. Go for 4-8kg on each arm. Do squats while lifting weights.

B. FoodThere are three key things to know regarding eating

food for weight management: a) What one eats, b) the amount on eats and c) the number of times one eats.

To summarize, the plan is to eat very small portions of food, spread over longer periods. The aim is to allow the body to quickly digest and metabolize the food before the next meal. In this way, there is no hunger and the blood sugar level is well-regulated. Regulation of the blood sugar level is related to fat metabolism.

The other thing to know is that meal plans should contain a lot of foods with complex carbohydrates that have low glycaemic indices.

Complex carbs keep you fuller and regulate your blood sugar better, invariably determining how you metabolize fat.

I would also suggest you measure your food, for portion control, eat more vegetables than carbs and remember that everybody burns fat differently, some more quickly than others.

Please stay strong. Slow and steady wins a race. You will get there by the grace of God.

DONU KOGBARA IS A VANGUARD NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST.Please feel free to share your thoughts about her weight loss journey on donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk

SHAMING!Fat

BY DONU KOGBARA

BATTLE OF THE BULGE - PART 13 (WEEK 15)

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

LAMI TUMAKA @ 60!

R E S E T A F T E R R E T I R E M E N T

Prior to her retirement from The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Lami Tumaka held sway in her position as Director, Special Duties. A recipient of the Maritime Media Woman of the Year in 2011 and 2012 as well as the poll-driven Best Maritime Industry Public Relations Officer Award, among others, Tumaka contributed in no small measure to the re-branding of NIMASA and the entire maritime sector in general. Naturally, her friendly and vivacious personality made it all seem like a walk in the park. Some people would say her absence has left a void in the Maritime industry that would not be easily filled. In this interview, she speaks to KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR about the joys of turning 60, her

NIMASA journey, life after retirement and the importance of trusting and investing in people.

You worked in NIMASA for over 20 years. How well will you describe your time there and what key things did you learn in your climb to the zenith of your career?

I was with NIMASA for 22 years to be exact and I learnt quite a lot. I am a person who trusts people easily because if I may say so myself, I pride myself with the fact that I have a clean heart, and so, I see no reason why I should not trust or be suspicious of people. So, because my own mind is like that, I tend to think that people are like that as well. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. At NIMASA, I learnt not to take people at face value. I learnt the need to be more introspective and more careful. I also learnt the importance of giving people the opportunity to express themselves. If you do this, they over time, excel. And here, I am speaking about myself because I was given the opportunity to excel and I did my best.

The Maritime sector is typically a male dominated one. Would you say you experienced any gender related difficulties?

You are absolutely right, NIMASA is a technical agency, a technical corporate organization. It used to be mainly male dominated because people felt women were not well equipped for the rigours of the work at the agency.

When I first joined the agency, we had more men at the directorate level but in my 22 years somehow, we were able to break that glass ceiling. Of course, it wasn’t easy, but we did it, nonetheless. By the time I left, we had more female Assistant Directors, more female Deouty Directors and Directors too.

Now, the question people usually ask me is that in breaking the glass ceiling and rising to the top were my male colleagues in anyway chauvinistic? I will be totally unfair if I classify the NIMASA men

as such. On the contrary, they respected us the women because they recognized that we rose to our various positions not so much because of our gender, but because of the content that we had - our knowledge base and skills. So, they kind of helped us through. They did not antagonize us; they did not look down on us. We were really at par with the men. And in NIMASA there was this thing, women helping women. Once a woman rises to the top, we mentor the younger ones and we make sure that the pool of capable female hands is well populated at every point in time. Our share number outdid the men at that level and it was a plus for the women and young girls that were employed.

How did you get into public relations? Was it

intentional or something you fell into during the course of your job?

I like to describe myself as PR, I am PR, PR is me. It’s innate, I am a born PR person because I love people. As you already know, PR is all about relationships. If you know me or meet me for the first time, the first thing that strikes you is my warmth and my passion for people. So it was only natural, that with time I went into Public Relations. My job at Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN)as the manager public relations was where I really cut my teeth in the Public Relations sector. Let’s not also forget that I went to Holborn college in the UK where I got a Diploma in Public Relations. My main degree was in Ahmadu Bello University where I studied English Language with a bias for Literature. So, you can see everything about me is tilted towards what I later did in public relations.

Now your are retired, are your plans going forward?

I am a professional in two industries.Having spent 22 years in the Maritime sector, I

can assure you I have learnt a thing or two. Also, there is my media background, where I also have an edge having worked in public relations. I know I will still find some relevance in these two industries should there be any opportunity. I can assure you; I am retired but not tired.

At 60, you have had your own fair share of life’s highs and lows. With that in mind, what will you say are the key things you have learnt and now apply to your daily life?

Life is a challenge, nobody ever told us it will be smooth sailing. I am not a fanatic, but I am a very religious person. I practice Islam. Islam is one religion that if you abide by the principles and are guided by its tenets, whatever challenge comes

Having spent 22 years in the Maritime sector, I can assure you I have learnt a thing or two. Also, there is my media background, where I also have an edge having

worked in public relations. I know I will still find some

relevance in these two industries should there be any opportunity.

I can assure you; I am retired but not tired.

C O V E R C O V E R

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

your way in life, you are able to surmount. The religion tells you that from the day you were born, your paths in life has been marked out. Although through prayers, you can change whatever is unfortunate on your path.

The loss of my husband and my mother were earth shattering events. But you are guided by what the religion says; ‘From God we are, and unto God is our return’. Of course, you will mourn but you will be guided by the fact that we are all one day, going to go back to God almighty. My point is, my religion has helped me to get over the worse things life has thrown at me. And that for me, is what I hold on to daily.

Some people tend to focus more on impacting people as they mature in age, their views change and they learn not to stress the small stuff anymore, does this apply to you and what advice would you give to younger ones in finding a good balance in their life?

As you age and you mature, your values and priorities in life change, you become more focused. My advice is that the younger ones should be passionate about whatever they believe in. They should be goal oriented. Go for whatever you believe in and see it to its logical conclusion. Be positive in your attitude. This one is very important. What I tell people around me is that they should practise positive mental attitude, that is always looking at the sunny side of life.

Never allow challenges no matter how insurmountable it might look to you to bring you down. The morning will always come no matter how long it takes. Always look at the sunny side of life.

Are you involved in any form of charity or philanthropy?

I am passionate about issues concerning the lives of the less privilege. I am also very passionate about children and young adults. I usually go to the village and try to mentor the young girls and boys there.

At NIMASA, I spearheaded the corporate social responsibility program where we had an impact on almost 28 states here in Nigeria. We made contributions and distributions to the flood affected victims in some states, and IDPS in the north east. My then Chief Executive, Dr. Dakuku Peterside set up a committee which I chaired, and we went to the length and breadth of this country to make worthwhile contributions and distributions to the flood affected victims and internally displayed persons.

As a successful career woman and mother, what advice would you give to young mothers who are currently struggling with pressures of motherhood alongside building a career?

They need to find a balance. Find a balance and go with what works for you. If you need a nanny that will help look after your child, go ahead and get one. It’s also very important that you stay focused at work too. Be dedicated, be committed, and sharpen your work skills. This will ensure you stand out amongst your colleagues. Also never give up. Never say I am inundated with my family work; you just need to find a balance. Again, if you need help with the kids, go ahead and get it. Don’t stress. I will also say that it is good to have your kids at the same time so that sooner than later, you are done with childbearing and then you can concentrate on building your career.

What would you miss most about your 22 years in service?

It’s not easy to be used to a particular life style, where you wake up every day, you have a place to go to, you mix with people, you travel for international meetings, then suddenly, it’s over! At first, like anyone would, I had panic attacks. I had my fears, the fear of the unknown. What will I do? What will happen to me? But like I said, I always look at the sunny side of life. As soon as those feelings came, I was able to overcome them. I told

myself, you have spent 22 years doing this thing. You must have learnt and picked something that will make you able to stand on your own and do so well for yourself so what are you afraid of? I will miss going out every day. I will miss being able to contribute to the development of my county. I am retired but that doesn’t mean I won’t find other meaningful things to do with my time that would keep me busy and add value to everyone around me.

At the age of 60 what is your philosophy of life in going forward?

Live and let live. Be good, be kind, be wise, be generous. Whatever you do, must be in moderation, there shouldn’t be any excesses. Above all, you must be guided by the Almighty God in whatever you are doing. I describe my entire life as a life of grace. It has been one beautiful blessed life. But for the grace of God, I wouldn’t have experienced all I have so far. In retirement, there was so much glory. My family and friends came together to celebrate me. Someone said the nation stood still for me during that celebration and it means a lot to me. I will not take it for granted.

Never allow challenges no matter how insurmountable it might look to you to bring you down. The morning will always

come no matter how long it takes. Always look at the sunny

side of life.

My reputation as a stress Doctor in Nigeria is being acknowledged by more and more people. This is so because since 1991, I have been involved in teaching Stress Awareness and Management to many Nigerians. My decision to learn about Stress was based on my personal health experiences. Stress was identified as one of the major factors leading to my ill- health . . Up till now, when I allow myself to be under intense pressure, some of the unpleasant symptoms and signs reappear. It is very important for me to manage my stress and keep it at a level where it no longer affects my health negatively. I do not remember ever attending any lecture on Stress in the university of Ibadan. Most of what I have learnt about the subject of Stress, has been after my graduation from the medical school. Knowing what I know today, I am baffled that such an important health topic is not part of the medical school curriculum. It is understandable when one realises that the medical school program is focusing on disease and disease management with drugs, radiation etc. It is not so easy relating the myriad of diseases affecting mankind to a subject matter such as Stress.

In Europe, America and Nigeria there are now several books written on stress. I have read some of them. Most seem to tackle one aspect of stress or the other. Eg. Work stress, parental stress, effects of stress on health and performance, and financial stress. This is not the correct way to address the stress problem. Stress management must be tackled from the holistic perspective. It must be addressed in ralation to each individual’s total social existence.

Most people when asked to define stress, usually refer to the negative side of stress.

They fail to realize that stress is infact good. It is a gift from God to enable us react quickly to situations and challenges in our environment. The negative effects of stress on my health motivated me to learn more about stress especially from the stand point of practical knowledge that people can use immediately to help them cope better with stress . In 1995, we founded the Nigerian institute of stress with Prof. Tolani Asuni as the founding president of the board of Trustees. The institute is not as active as it was few years ago but this is one project that I am committed to reviving because I believe that stress is a silent killer and we must reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of Nigerians through stress Awareness and Management.

Many people fail to realize that stress Management is a great tool for personal development and they do not realize how important stress management is to their spiritual, emotional and physical well being. Apart from not having enough knowledge in this topic, even the limited information we have is not usually utilized for our benefit. Why don’t we? We do not because we just like to talk and talk. Talking gives us Instant pleasure and the false belief that we are at least doing something.

Taking action gives us pain. The pain of creating the time to do what we know will lead to a more positive destiny. We are also very resistant to change. We focus too much on our desire to achieve and acquire material things. We are too competitive. We must get that businesses, that political post, that job at whatever cost, even at the detriment of our integrity, our principles

and our well-being. All these inconsistencies in our lives are due to inferior evaluations. Many of us are stressed out and in that state, the ability to think properly is compromised. Superior evaluations lead to Superior outcomes. Learning how to cope with stress will enable us evaluate Situations better and evlove solutions that will be long term and deal with the underlying problems in our lives especially our economic and political problems. People that want to be our political, business, spiritual leaders must strive to live balanced lives so that they can make empowering decisions that will affect positively the lives of millions of Nigerians.

Stress management, I believe is an imperative for the leaders and the led. A happy healthy and fulfilled man will more readily care about people than an unhappy person who is looking for a quick fix like amassing illegal wealth and seeking undie recognition to fill the gap of adeep seated emptiness and lack of self esteem. Part of self improvement is learning how to put things into practice. We have had our share of seminarsa and workshops. I believe it is time to act. Action is what is lacking and consistent action. Is what is needed. We must all learn strategies for constantly improving all aspects of our life. We can improve our health, well-being, a d decision making process by learning stress management.

Everyday, human beings are involved in simple to complex social interactions either at work, within the family or societal setting. These interactions bring different forms of stress, some good and some bad. Some urgly and unless you are equipped with the awareness, knowledge and skills to manage stress so that it becomes your ally in achieving your goals and aspirations in life, you will have lived a life of a failure.

WHAT IS STRESS?:-Stress is defined in so many ways but to put it simple,

it is a reaction by the body to any stimulus be it physical, psychological or otherwise. Most people when asked to define stress, usually refer to it’s bad side. For instance, being under too much pressure. What they fail to realize is that stress can also be a pleasant and stimulating experience. Infact good stress, which is termed Eustress, is exciting, stimulating, and motivates us to be more creative, increasing our productivity and facilitating our achievements of goals and aspirations. Although this sort of stress is a normal part of our lives, prolonged bouts of stress without adequate relaxation can lead to bad stress called DISTRESS. For example, frustration, boredom , poor performance, headache, frequent colds, malaria are symptoms of distress. This ultimately will lead to ugly stress which may cause health problems like Ulcers, heart attack, anxiety, depression and hypertension. Sometimes stress can lead to exhaustion and even death.

The simplest way to define stress that I learnt from the book “ BE STRESS WISE”, states that:-

“Stress can therefore be defined as a state we experience when there is a mismatch between perceived demands and perceived ability to cope.

It is the balance between how we view demands and how we think we can cope with these demands that determines whether we feel no stress, distress or

eustressed.”Stress affects us all. It exists in so many areas of our

lives that we often take it for granted. Today studies have sent shown that at least three quarters of those who visit their doctors have stress related complaints and many doctors now consider that almost all illnesses and diseases are stress related in some way. Unfortunately,doctors often do not have the time because of high patient doctor ratio to talk through stress related disorders with their patients in order to get to the root of the matter. For example many forms of anxiety, depression and hypertension are treated with pills and medicines which whilst necessary and helpful in the short term,cannot solve the underlying problem.

When we are faced with increasing number of demands, either due to work, family, or societal commitments, we need to make an appraisal about our ability to cope with these various demands. If we think we cannot cope, we begin to feel distressed and this unpleasant feeling of distress begins to affect our coping ability and a vicious circle sets in. The magic in learning how to manage the stress in our lives is to continue to increase our coping abilities as it is very likely that being very busy people, our demands will continue increasing. My emphasis on teaching stress management skills is in the area of developing coping skills so that one is always at an advantage. One of the first coping skills to acquire is to be aware of the stress- concept. Almost everyone that has attended my stress management workshop agrees that gaining an awareness and understanding of the stress response is an important and necessary step in the bid to deal effectively with stress. You need to learn about the biology of the stress response if you are to understand and appreciate how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress, how stress can lead to health problems and affect performance.

THE STRESS RESPONSEOur response to any stress stimuli is actually primarily

based on our perception of the stress. If we continuously view the challenges in our lives, as overwhelming, we will easily feel stressed out. If however we view our problems as normal events of life, we will be in a better mental and emotional state to cope with the problems, in which case, our stress level will be manageable. As the philosopher Epictetus said “ Men are disturbed not by things but by their view of things”.

Since our reaction to events is dependent ultimately on our perception, we must try to manage our thoughts and perceptions so that we are always feeling overwhelmed. What you think is what you are. Stress management is therefore an individual phenomenon and each person must take personal responsibility to manage the stress in their life. All that is needed is the awareness and strategy to do so.

This will be continued in the next weeks . Until then be positive , prayerful and keep safe . Coronavirus pandemic is real.

Dr Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi - Stress , cell - revitalization, integrative medicine and Cani specialist

360DR IFEYINWA NWAKWESI

POSI IVEtSTRESS IS GOOD, BAD & UGLY, STRESS - SILENT

KILLER - LEARN STRESS COPING SKILLS

LIVING A PHENOMENAL, HEALTHY, HAPPY AND FULFILLED LIFE.

ON THE

C O V E R

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

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THISDAY Style V day, June 28, 2020S T Y L E & D E S I G N

With gyms closed and most of us spending more time at home than ever, sales of gym equipment have gone through the roof as we all look to keep up our fitness levels from the comfort of our own houses. However, if you’re missing that little dose of luxury that you usually might have in your gym routine, then high end brands are here to bring it back up with the most stylish range of at-home fitness equipment any stylish fitness enthusiast will want to own.

CHANEL No matter the sport, French luxury brand Chanel has got you covered. Launched at the London 2012 Olympics, its sporting collection covers a diverse range of equipment, each emblazoned with the classic double-C. The collection includes footballs, basketballs, tennis and golf gear, rollerblading and snowboarding equipment.

GUCCI Luxury sports equipment is a fairly recent trend, and Gucci was arguably the first on the scene, debuting its head-turning surfboards back in 2001. Numerous imitators have followed in their wake, but the Italian brand has kept

up with a consistent strong collection of sporting gear in the years since. Among the current

collection, you’ll find a sleek pair of ski goggles, an urban bicycle and helmet in conjunction with luxury biking brand Bianchi. LOUIS VUITTONLouis Vuitton’s collection of sporting equipment is in a league of its own. The fashion house has a dream collection of sporting goods every sportsman

dreams of coveting. The star of this sport collection is

undoubtedly the $2,720 polished dumbells with the LV monogram working its way around the leather handle. Whether they’ll help you build muscle is an open question - they only weigh 6.7 lbs. Each end cap is forged from silver-tone metal engraved with the label’s name. HERMESHermès has established itself as a versatile luxury brand, not confining itself to fashion only but breaking boundaries in different aspect of fashion and lifestyle effortlessly. The brand has weaved opulence into the world of sports with it different sporting gear and one we definitely can not get enough of is the Hermes basketball. The one-of-a-kind ball is the chicest of its kind. Using the same hand-stitching technique of the legendary Birkin bag, the ball comes in cool blue calfskin and is guaranteed to up your style game on the court. Hermes also have some cool sporting equipments like skateboards, fishing rods and rooster feather, bicycles, equestrian related paraphernalia and much more.

L U X U R YM E E T S

S P O R T S

LACOSTE Lacoste started out as a tennis gear label, but as its brand and prestige increased, so too did its luxury calling. But the label is getting back to the basics of sorts, with a range of luxury sporting goods. The sleek collection is similar to Chanel’s, a monochromatic set that includes American footballs, soccer balls, surfboards and skis, a bicycle with crash helmet and even a boomerang. BERLUTI SPORTS KITEquipment for working out at home often lacks the prestige of regular sports equipment. But for those who want to train solo with a sense of style, French brand Berluti’s sports kit fits the bill. Featuring a range of dumbbells and a sleek skipping rope, each is made from classic Venezia leather and comes tastefully designed in classic earth tones.

LAYER IT UP

Layering is all about being creative with trying unique combinations of varying lengths and textures. The layered look allows you to take off and add up pieces depending on the weather’s mood swings. Stunning layered looks don’t just happen, there’s a right way to rock it effortlessly. Factors like print mixing and colour blocking and the right proportion are some of the key ingredients for nailing that perfect layered look. Want to layer like a pro? Here’s how to do it.

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

I can say this loud and often enough; fashion pronunciation can be a trap. One, I’m ashamed to admit as fashion writer,

I’ve occasionally fallen victim to, so that is why I know how important it is for us fashion enthusiast to know our

Balmain from your Balmarrrrn. Here are a few more names worthy of learning.

DID YOU KNOW? PRONOUNCING

THE NAME

LOEWE Yes. This super-chic design house is Spanish and it is pronounced lo-weh-v

COMME DES GARÇONSThe label famous for the happy little heart appliqué (and 40 years of the world’s most avant-garde couture) is a Japanese brand named after a French song lyric from the 70s. It translates to mean “like boys’’ and pronounced dey gah-sown

BALMAINSounds a bit like an eye-roll when you say it but trust me, it’s bal-marrn

HERMÉSDo NOT say this word phonetically, cause it’s the biggest disservice to this iconic brand. The word is pronounced er-mess and also worthy of note is if you want to type an accent on a letter, just hold the letter key down for a couple of seconds and voila! You have it.

RALPH LAUREN. Straight up. Ralph as in Ralph Wiggum and Lauren as in Lauren Conrad is pronounced ‘ralph LAUR-en’. It’s not lau-REN as many people still project or ‘ralph lo-REN’, with an emphasis on the final syllable.

LANVINPronounce LAHN-VAHN any other way and it can sound like a supermarket-brand moisturiser. It also doesn’t need either syllable emphasised. It’s the surname of Jeanne Lanvin who founded the French label back in 1889.

ROCHASPronounced RO-SHAR. This one does go by “shh”. It’s a soft sound, hcause the “s” is silent. Rochas is another century-old French fashion house that derives its name from founder Marcel Rochas.

BY USIADE ISIOMA

JENNIFER OSEH

LOLA AKINULI-ADENIYI

LIZEKA MAKALA

KATE HENSHAW

ALICIA

ANGEL OBASI

FOLAKE HUNTOON

Add some oomph with Boots!A layered look plus boots equal supermodel off-duty! Boots double up as a fashion statement piece and is a warmth provider during the cold weather. The higher the boot, the prettier the outfit.

Drape your jacketThis style keeps it light and still shows off your curves. Draping a jacket gives off that cool boss chick vibe especially with a fabric that’s not heavy. With a draped look, no one will ever think you’re new to the game of layering! Try out a

monochro-matic lookIf you have no desire to blend in with the crowd, then try layering several shades of one colour. Everyone will easily spot the style star!

Let turtlenecks do the talkingThe turtleneck does well for seamless layering but we know that if turtlenecks are not styled well, you could risk looking grandma-ish. Try throwing on a blazer or a teddy coat for a contem-porary look.

Proportion is keyEach piece on your layer squad shouldn’t be the same length. You have to mix up lengths to ensure no piece is over-shadowed.

Plain x Pattern winsTry rocking a plain crop top over a printed maxi high waist skirt and watch the compliments flood in.

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S T Y L E & D E S I G N THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

Mothers, truth be told, whatever their job is, never get time off! Aside from their jobs, they are parents, partners teachers, playmates, chefs, doctors, caretakers, to mention a few of the caps they

have to juggle! This juggling of roles can sometimes put mothers on emotional, mental, and spiritual rollercoaster. With the emergence of the pandemic, it is not uncommon for mothers to value time

spent with family and loved ones. It is also not uncommon for them to suffer from cabin fever when being holed up in the home for several months takes its toll.

In the midst of everything, we have asked some mothers how they are navigating these troubled waters, what their current states of mind are, and how they’re planning to adapt to the new world

after the curve has been flattened.

Motherhood and the Pandemic

Who are you currently at home with?I am currently home with my husband, my children and some of my family members.

How has staying home 24/7 with your children been?It has been wonderful, I have the opportunity now to spend more time with them, getting to read and sing their nursery rhymes and taking care of them. Now l can spend all 24 hours with them unlike before when l had to rely on their nannies and my sister to take care of them because l was busy at work.

How would you describe your overall mental state at a time like this?I must say it’s up and down. It’s not stable. I am so worried now, because we don’t know what is in store for us. We don’t know when the pandemic will be over, we are just hopeful and prayerful. Everything is on hold, a lot of businesses are on hold. We are just worried about the different stories, myths and information overload. It has been crazy I must say, but we are praying to God to make us stay mentally stable and not let fear, anxiety and discouragement rule the day for us.

What resources (Books, Movies, websites etc) have brought you the most ease during this pandemic?I will say a lot of my cooking shows; I love to watch Food Network a lot. I have been

watching What’s Cooking America. All Seasons that I have missed, I have watched like Chopped, Next Food Network Star and Cutthroat Kitchen. I think I watched Money Heist and some other movies and series. These have all helped me relax. I have also been writing though when I get

worried, the creativity just stops. But most times, l watch movies, spend time with the kids and play games with my husband and the family.

What is the first thing you will do once all this is over?Honestly, I don’t even know what I am going to do first; because I am just praying that everything should be fine. I think I will just get back to work because I love working.

What is one selfcare gift on your list after the

Pandemic?Oh my, I am going to the spa because I have not been in a while, I will give myself enough treatment, scrub my skin. I won’t have to rely on DIY anymore. Just go and get pampered. And I will stop saying, ‘I am busy I am busy’, because that’s the excuse l use most times. I never had time to exercise. We do not know what tomorrow holds, so after it all, I will make myself happy. I am so traveling for a fabulous holiday HOLIDAY! (Laughter)

BY RUKY SALAKO

FUNKE AKINDELE BELLOAward winning Nollywood Actress and Producer. Funke

is also the CEO of Sceneone TV.

Who are you currently home with?I’m currently at home with my husband, our 15-month old baby and baby’s nanny.

How has staying at home with your child been?It’s been an exciting experience. I am super thankful for the age that she is right now. I consider it “low maintenance” as I am not worried about schoolwork, assignments and all of that. I’m basically only thinking of food time, play time, naptime, bath time and bed time, just like I was before the lockdown.

How would you describe your overall mental state during this period?It has improved. I really am more at peace and feel more in control. This is because I realized early on to only dwell on changing things that I can change. I couldn’t do much about the lockdown, so I just flowed with it.

What resources (books, movies, websites etc) has brought you the most ease?I was intentional about two things this period- rest and study. I’ve been taking courses by Debola Deji-Kurunmi, reading her book Firebrand Forerunners, I have also taken courses on Udemy- Networking Like A Professional, an MBA in one course, A study of some books of the Bible etc. For

rest & relaxation- Netflix all the way!!! It’s a good time to say “Thank You” to the founder(s) of Netflix for “answering the call” Hahaha! I also went back to my old hobby of writing.

I’ve written and published some of

my writings and received really good feedback.

What is the first thing you will do once all this is over?Stay home. I don’t think I’ll be going out for a couple of weeks.

What is one self-care gift on your list after the Pandemic?Ah, for these I will go out- pedicure, manicure, facials, hammam scrub, deep conditioning… in fact catch me at the spa!!

Who are you currently at home with?Currently I am home with my husband, and my beautiful daughter Rosie, no driver, no cleaner, no help and that is because we need to protect the little one from possible contacts with outsiders. How has staying home with your child been?Staying at home with my daughter has been amazing, it has helped me connect on a different level with her, it has also made me realize no one can babysit or take care of your child as much as you. Ever since the almost six weeks lockdown, I have grown to understand my daughter more and I have managed to put her into an unbreakable routine. She is only 11months now and I’m just thankful for this opportunity to connect this deep with her. Rosie says MAMA, PAPA, DADA, NANA, and is extremely smart. The lockdown has also helped me see how independent she is and how much character she has built even as an 11 months old. Its just so amazing to watch!

How would you describe your overall mental state at a time like this?My mental state? Hmm - my mind travels a lot now, as a mother, and an entrepreneur all I think about is how this pandemic would affect the formative years and development of my daughter. I think of her education and ask myself if I am ready to take the risk of taking her to work with me, or even letting her go to creche or play groups, it is just tough. On the other hand I ask myself what effect this would have on SME’s like mine and how to reposition, restructure and restrategize to fit this new pandemic and the new economic

state of the country.

What resources (books, movies, websites etc) have brought you the most ease?I have just always found joy in reading books that move me from one point in business to the next point, some of those books are ‘Richest man in Babylon, E-myths and Small Business big Money’.

What is the first thing you will do once all this is over?The first thing I would do once we are out of this lockdown is just basically drive around for one or two hours. Would you believe if I told you I have not stepped pass my front door in six weeks?Trust

me, the drive would be for sanity sake.

Going for a drink with the girls won’t be a bad idea after all because I need a clear head to forge forward.

What is one self-care gift on your list after the Pandemic?I will definitely run to the spa and do everything doable in there (laughter). I would also get me some Hans & Rene ice cream (10 scoops) to be precise! Then I would go get my hair and nails done. It’s high time.

TOYOSI ETIM-EFFIONGDigital Specialist in the creation and curation of short-form contents.Toyosi is also the Past publishing Editor at Folio.ng, a CNN digital

publishing platform.

Who are you currently home with?I am currently home with my husband, kids and nannies.

How has staying at home with your children been?Being a wife and mother who enjoys the company of both my kids and husband, this period has availed me the opportunity to enjoy what I absolutely love doing the most - bonding with my family and building lasting memories.

How would you describe your overall mental state during this period?To the glory of God, I have been able to maintain an excellent mental state. I have been engaging in a couple of activities. • Under normal conditions, we have a

routine for the kids, so in these times it is important that I maintain their routine as that always helps me stay sane.

• Exercise: Working out at home has helped me tremendously. Keeps me feeling healthy and energized.

• - Engaging in community service: I have been engaging in service to the community even while maintaining social distance. This is one major thing I love and thoroughly enjoy doing; being able to give back to the community at this period gives me profound joy and a great sense of fulfilment and purpose.

• Maintaining Community and Social Connections: Social Connectivity has been proven to be one of the greatest determinants of wellbeing and one of our most basic psychological needs. However, since I can’t physically connect with my family and friends, phone calls and social media has been an alternative means of reaching out. Video conferencing has definitely made it more interesting and is a lifesaver.

• Prayer: This has been a great source of maintaining my mental health. It helps

maintain my sanity and keeps my anxiety at bay.

• Gratitude: This is really not the easiest thing to do at this time, particularly for those that felt the more brutal effect of the pandemic, like job or business loss or illness. However, showing gratitude for the things we do have is definitely paramount, so basically, I write down five things I am grateful for once a week and this has significantly helped in increasing my wellbeing.

What resources (books, movies, websites etc) have brought you the most ease?I have been reading a lot of motivational books, taking series of online courses on creativity and leadership, personal development. I am not a TV girl but I do indulge in some Netflix nights with my family. Netflix nights are my relaxation nights.

What is the first thing you will do once all this is over?I definitely have a list of to-do, which includes:I will go straight to see my parents, get my manicure and pedicure, Travel somewhere, dinner with friends….I can tell you this much, I will never stay home. (Laughs)

What is one self-care gift on your list after the pandemic?Reconnecting with natural joy. I tend to achieve this by continuing to exercise and enjoy nature, which has been my pillar for maintaining my health and also mental stability.In general, I am going to continue having a great time with my kids and husband and also explore my community whilst hanging out with friends.

ABISOLA KOLA DAISIFounder and CEO of Florence H Luxury, a concept

store showcasing international brands, and TLLM, a traveling market showcasing premium African

designers. NGO - The AKD FOUNDATION.

BOLAJI AYINDE-SEKONIEntrepreneur, Content Creator and Creative Director at

Nouva Africa.

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S T Y L E & D E S I G N S T Y L E & D E S I G NTHISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

From bold punchy pinks to classic blues, fresh sandy tan to unexpected neon shades, below are the five biggest colour trends you’re about to see everywhere. Get ahead! Shop the hues right now.

As always, crisp white will see you through the summer season in style. An all-white

ensemble makes the ultimate summer look, also, pairing

white trousers or shorts with a more vibrant top will look

equally as contemporary.

white

lime green pale blue

pink

ALEXANDRIAH SHO-SILVA & TELLA ADEWUNMI

This outrageous fuchsia is one of the most memorable summer 2020 colour trends, thanks to its punchy intensity. 

CHICHI ADOGU & NKIRU NWOSU

Lime green has become a surprising front-runner for shades of the summer months. Many influencers have been seen in this eye

catching yet punchy hue.

 EMMALYN LOVE & SADE AKINOSHO

This blue shade is as reliable and dependable as your go-to pair of jeans. The approachable hue conveys comfort

and ease and looks chic when paired with bold and vibrant colours. 

OLAMIDE AYODELE & SERWAA AMIHERE

SAND BEIGENoted as one of

Pantone’s colours of the season, sandy beige is set for resurgence this

summer. As the authority on colour notes, the

natural hue can signify nurture and comfort.  

sandbeige

TOYOSI GREGORY JONAH & TOMI

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

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S T Y L E & D E S I G N S T Y L E & D E S I G NTHISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9180 Sunday, June 28, 2020